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Gorgo continued, “According to the rumor, Victus’s mother was mostly angel and part magus or something. She was the one who prevented Asmodeus from taking over the castle until he found hematite crystals at Mount Stones. The queen was bound with hematite cuffs around her wrists when the soldiers took her out of the throne room.”
Abacus’s eyes widened again, but with admiration this time. “I understand now. Nadira is their child. And he compelled all of us to forget to keep her safe. Can you imagine what Nadira could become? Blood of demon, angel, vampire, and magus.”
“Yes,” Gorgo said with conviction. “The reason Victus and Joleen did what they did. Joleen must have fashioned the plan. Victus would have never used his gift.”
Snow paced in front of the wagon near where Dawn stood, her mice moving about her shoulders. “I only knew her as Evangeline.”
“This is too hard to digest.” Tank scrubbed the back of his head. “Zander was the one who brought our team together. He’s a Seraphim. Shouldn’t he have known her true name?”
“Zander?” Michael narrowed his eyes. “I’ve heard most of the Seraphims’ names and I’ve never heard of this one. Are you sure of his status?”
“Only Seraphim have white and gold wings like Zander.” Dawn took the mice from Snow’s shoulders and placed them on the driver’s seat of the wagon. “When I was captured, I thought I heard Levia call Zander ‘Rafael,’ but I had thought I’d heard wrong. That name stuck out to me because I’d heard rumor that a fallen named Rafael murdered and sliced off a Seraphim’s wings. And … oh shit.”
I clenched my jaw and paced from the wagon to Gorgo. “Do you know what this means? Zander is the Angel of Many Faces and he’s a fallen. And he’s been fooling all of you.”
“You’re wrong!” Tank grabbed my shoulders but he couldn’t lift me up.
I shoved him and ground my teeth. “Think about it. Think long and hard.”
Otis shrugged. “I’ve always thought he was kind of … different. He wouldn’t kneel for the life of him to save Tank and me.”
Gorgo scoffed. “My brother has some kind of fetish for other leaders kneeling before him. And I bet he knew Rafael wouldn’t. He was taunting him for his sick pleasure. So that means my brother and Rafael are working together.”
“Then …” Snow ruffled her delicate feathers, her voice taking a somber note. “We’ve been allowing a monster to lead us all this time?”
Tank, Otis, Dawn, and Snow lowered their heads. I understood their anger, regret, and shame.
“Do not blame yourselves,” I said. “Even Joleen was fooled. Markane and Abacus, quickly tell us what you remember about Joleen and your past. Then we need to be on our way.”
Snow cleared her throat lightly. “I have to take a detour, so you all go ahead. I’ll catch up as soon as I can. The vampire court is on their way to the castle. I must warn them.”
“We’re not separating,” I said. “It’s best the vampire court know our faces so they know we’re on the same team. Then perhaps we can come up with a plan together for a surprise attack.”
Chapter Forty
Kara
Nina
Nina pushed a section of the brick wall under the first skeletal wings in her lab room where she had drawn Evangeline’s blood. That part of the structure opened to a bathing area.
Four torches in the corners of the room cast an eerie glow, while the flickering candles on the back table added a soft light. The musty smell of soil mingled with the sweet aroma of roses that floated atop the water in the cement bathing area.
Nina had thrown handfuls of rose petals into the bath because one, she loved roses, and two, so she could have some semblance of her own space.
The bathing room was her sanctuary. Where she could escape and pretend she didn’t live with the vampires. Besides, if she ever felt threatened, she could hide here. Only Victus and his most trusted people knew of the bathing room.
Though Nina had told Eva about tunnels, she didn’t disclose the location. Nina lowered to her knees and pushed the brick wall under the table. That section opened up just enough for her to crawl through. Then it shut itself, stone grinding behind her.
Nina accidentally found the secret entrance when she dropped an unlit candle. When she kneeled to pick it up, she stepped on her dress and rolled forward, hitting her head, then the wall pushed open.
In the complete darkness, she walked step by step, her hands grazing the cold stone to guide her way. She had only walked twelve feet when lights bounced on the wall and her shadow welcomed her as the lanterns on the ground gave light to her path.
When she’d had the chance, she explored the long tunnels but never ventured out too far. Footprints reminded her she wasn’t the only one using the tunnels. She had to be careful and not get caught. Nina didn’t want to get trapped inside with a hungry vampire.
The other day, she almost ran into Markane and Abacus in the tunnel. Strange, she hadn’t seen them recently. Nor Victus, Nadira, and Kara. And Evangeline hadn’t been sent to her to get more blood drawn. She was hoping to see Eva soon. She wanted to help her so she too could get out of the vampire lair.
Instead of curving to the right, where she had adventured many times before, she rounded the bend in the opposite direction. She paused. In the room on the other side of the stone wall, soft voices filled her ears. A sliver of light revealed a crack in the stone wall, and she put her eye next to it.
